Court workers union agrees to contract

Five-year pact in Lehigh County includes raises, deductions for benefits.

September 22, 2006|By Romy Varghese Of The Morning Call

A union representing 183 Lehigh County court employees has agreed to a five-year contract, the first one settled without arbitration.

As did other unions, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 88, signed off on having the courts employees be covered under the health care plan offered to non-union workers. Having all employees under one plan may give the county leverage with providers and also create savings.

County commissioners must approve the labor pact.

Tom Muller, county administration director, said that at their Oct. 11 meeting, commissioners may review agreements with AFSCME, which negotiates two separate contracts for courts and corrections employees, and the Pennsylvania Social Services Union. He declined to release the contracts for corrections employees and PSSU, because he hasn't received signed copies from the unions yet.

Under their agreement, courts workers will receive a 3.5 percent pay increase in 2006, 3.75 percent hike in 2007, 3.9 percent in 2008, 4 percent in 2009 and in 2010, either 4 percent or the wage hike granted for non-union workers, if it's higher than 4 percent.

Employees will pay a percentage of their salary for health care coverage, effective in January. Those enrolled in employee-only coverage will have 1 percent deducted from their pay; others in family coverage will see a 2.5 percent deduction.

Longevity pay starts at $400 for 5 years and goes to $2,000 for 25 years of employment.

Muller said corrections employees have struck a similar contract that calls for the same annual wage increases.